Rak

Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) is developing, as a private venture, a turret mounted 120 mm breech loaded mortar system called Rak to meet the potential requirements of the Polish Army as well as export markets.

It is expected that the first prototype system will be completed in 2008/2009 and then be put through an extensive series of company trials followed by Polish Army trials.

Production of the 120 mm Rak turret mortar system could commence as early as 2010/2011, depending on when a firm production order was placed.

This 120 mm Rak turret mortar system can be integrated onto tracked and wheeled chassis with the latter including the Patria Vehicles Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) of which 690 have been ordered by the Polish Army with first deliveries made in 2007.

Within the Polish Army the AMV is known as the Rosomak with the first vehicles coming from the Finnish production line with subsequent production being undertaken in Poland.

It is understood that the Polish Army has a potential requirement for between 90 and 180 Rak 120 mm turret mortar systems depending on available funding.

It is expected that for trials purposes, the first example of the HSW 120 mm turret mortar system will be installed on the chassis of the 2S1 122 mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH). This Russian-designed system was built in large numbers by HSW for the home and export markets.

Description

The turret is of all-welded steel armour protection that provides protection from small arms fire and shell splinters.

For improved accuracy the 120 mm breech loaded mortar is laid onto the target using a computerised fire-control system that is already used by the Polish Army. The system will be operated by a crew of four people.

As the system is turret mounted it will be capable of carrying out direct and indirect fire missions with maximum range of the latter depending on the projectile/propellant combination. Maximum stated rate of fire is between 10 and 12 rounds a minute.

It is understood that when being used in the indirect fire role it will have a minimum range of 500 m and a maximum range of 12,000 m when being used in the indirect fire role.

Total number of projectiles carried will depend on the chassis but will probably be about 60 of which about 20 would be in the turret bustle for ready use and loaded using a semi-automatic loading system.

While HSW is developing the Rak 120 mm turret mortar system, the Polish Ministry of National Defence Armament Technology Institute is developing the family of ammunition.

The 120 mm Rak turret mortar system will be used in conjunction with the currently deployed WB Electronics computerised fire-control system.